Posted on April, 5, 2016 at 10:29 am
BY ELIZABETH MERAB
The government intends to diversify the use of maize with a view to producing more than 300 products from the country’s staple. To achieve this, it has launched a programme that will see it expand the uses of maize through a grain processing technology adopted from Mexico.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, the technology, referred to as “nixtamalization” which is borrowed from the Central American country, will enable the government to diversify use of maize.
Speaking at the launch of the programme, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Willy Bett said the technology can be adopted as a post-harvest method of reducing exposure to aflatoxin, a toxin produced by certain fungi found on agricultural crops such as maize and groundnuts.
“We have noticed that the technology has enabled Mexicans to significantly reduce the amount of aflatoxin in tortillas (Mexican bread) by about 30-58 per cent,” said Mr Bett. The value addition, Mr Bett added, is also an incentive that will attract and improve the involvement of the Kenyan youth in agribusiness.
Nixtamalization refers to a process for the preparation of maize in which the grain is soaked and cooked in an alkaline solution, usually limewater, and then hulled. The process is said to not only reduce the amount of toxins in the maize but also increase shelf life of food products.
The project to oversee the value addition was awarded to the Estern Africa Grain Council (EAGC) in partnership with the Mexican Agency for Cooperation for Development through a workshop held three years ago.
“The experts in nixtamalization are already in the country and will be training our trainers for the next one week at KALRO Katumaini Centre,” said Mr Bett.
Last year, Kenya produced about 42 million 90-killogramme bags of maize. It also has a per capita consumption rate of about 103kg per year. Mr Bett said the ministry will also involve the private sector in the project, saying: “While the government is a facilitator, the private sector will be the major driver in the commercialization of the nixtamalized products.”
Other than Kenya, Malawi and Tanzania are also expected to integrate the use of the technology.
Source: Daily Nation Newspaper/Teusday April 5, 2016/ Food Security / Page 21 – www.nation.co.ke